Daily Times

As I started to write this column, my first inclination was to discuss Pakistani politics. However, two international stories, both of a religious nature, kept intruding into my thoughts. The first was of course the tragic death of hundreds of pilgrims during a Hajj stampede. The second was the address to US Congress by Pope Francis. About the tragic death of Hajj pilgrims, it came at a time when Muslims were getting a pretty bad press in the US. It is indeed extremely unfortunate that rarely is there any news that makes Muslims look good. This is in stark comparison to the papal visit to the US. Even non-Catholics have found much to like about the Pope so much so that it would almost seem that Catholicism is getting a fresh coat of paint.

Even though the latest tragedy during Hajj was most likely an accident, the preceding crane crash that killed many pilgrims followed by this latest tragedy certainly makes one wonder about the arrangements made for the safety of pilgrims at a time when millions of Muslims come to the holy places all at once. Indeed, many devout Muslims hope in their hearts to die in the holy land but, even so, it the responsibility of the host country to provide arrangements to prevent that from happening. The alternative to preventing accidents like the deadly stampede might be to restrict the number of pilgrims allowed at one time. Providing five star hotels and air-conditioned tents is all for the best but the safety of ordinary pilgrims must be a primary objective. As a sidebar, if the present trend towards luxury Hajj pilgrimage continues, soon enough the entire purpose behind this important religious endeavour will be lost.

The reason why this particular subject takes on increased importance is that it happened while the major crisis of mostly Muslim migrants to Europe coming from Muslim majority countries that have virtually imploded catches the attention of much of the world. Add to all this the ongoing spate of terrorist attacks in many Muslim countries. Whatever news there is about the world of Islam is definitely not pleasant. Yes, more than a billion Muslims live normal lives and do normal things but there is enough turmoil to catch the world’s news. And the media has no interest in showing anything but what is wrong. People living ordinary lives is just not news. The sad part of all this media representation of what Muslims are supposed to be like has made many people in the west actually start to believe that Muslims are not good people.

The recent story in the US of a 14-year-old Muslim boy who brought a homemade clock to school and ended up being arrested is an example of what people are willing to believe about Muslims. The latest controversy, if one can even call it that, is about a Muslim becoming president of the US. The problem is perhaps not with Muslims as much as it with the visceral hatred many conservative Republicans have for President Obama. A significant percentage of the Republican loony right in the US believes that Obama is a Muslim and was born in Kenya, not the US. So, it is difficult to say what is the real reason for their hatred towards Muslims: their hatred of Obama or the other way around?

The anti-Muslim sentiment was overtly expressed by one of the Republican Party’s presidential candidates who said and repeated a few times that Muslims should not become president of the US unless they first repudiate their faith or something to that effect. Many politicians and some in the press have come out and openly condemned such anti-Muslim sentiments, both on general principles as well as US constitutional grounds. Even so, anti-Muslim sentiment is definitely present and is increasing in the US based partly as a response to excesses of Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq, and partly because of the Republican Party’s strong and unified support for Israel, and opposition to the US-Iran agreement on nuclear issues. Fortunately, there does not seem to be any increase in ethnic or religious violence aimed against Muslims just yet and most of the sentiments are expressed in political rhetoric. However, if the present trend continues, there just might be an increase in anti-Muslim violence in the near future.

Considering the US’ response to the papal visit, it is indeed interesting that a religious leader is being accorded such a ‘joyous’ reception in an avowedly secular country. Here, it would be worthwhile pointing out that even though the US is legally a secular country in public as well as private life religion still plays an important role. However, this pope is unique in some respects. First, he has de-emphasised ritual and put service of the poor as his primary objective. Second, he has expressed support for attempts at delaying or reversing climate change. Third, he has presented a less aggressive opposition to divorces and towards non-heterosexual relations. However, he is still opposed to birth control, abortion, divorce, same sex marriage, homosexuality and other usual Catholic religious prohibitions. So, the reception he receives and his popularity are not based on any significant change in religious dogma during his papacy but rather on the ‘new’ and more ‘liberal’ face of Catholicism that he represents.

Many ordinary and decent Muslims who watch the pope being received with such warmth wonder who among Muslims could represent them a similar way and speak on their behalf to the rest of the world. Sadly, there is not a single person in the Muslim world at this time who has the moral authority or the general acceptance to speak for most if not all Muslims. Even though the pope does not represent all Christians but he is still the head of the Catholic Church and there are roughly as many Catholics as there are Muslims in the world.

The author is a former editor of the Journal of Association of Pakistani descent Physicians
of North America (APPNA)